(Photo Credit: Shervin-Lainez) The San Fernando Valley Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, Inc., in partnership with LA Opera and the LA Opera Ambassadors, will present “Opera Noir” on Feb. 28, an initiative designed to celebrate Black artistry and expand access to one of Los Angeles’ flagship cultural institutions. Scheduled to coincide with the conclusion of Black History Month, {…}
LA Opera is set to perform Phelim McDermott’s production of Philip Glass’s “Akhnaten.” The production will be conducted by Dalia Stasevska and will star countertenor John Holiday in the title role. He will be joined by bass Zachary James as Amenhotep III, mezzo-soprano Sun-Ly Pierce as Nefertiti, and soprano So Young Park as Queen Tye. Also starring include tenor Yuntong {…}
The Ebell of LA releases its programming for Black History Month. This article only features opera-related events. Soprano Gertrude Bradley performs a special tribute to Joel Graham, accompanied by pianist Greg Schreiner. The concert is put on in collaboration with African Americans for LA Opera, a chapter of Los Angeles Opera’s Opera League dedicated to increasing the awareness of opera {…}
Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra is set to open its 2025 season with “Current: Reflections in Song” on Oct. 4, 2025. The program will be headlined by John Holiday and is set to take place at Cicada Restaurant and Lounge. The program is Hollywood-inspired and combines cinematic musical language with jazz. Holiday is renowned as a finalist for “The Voice.” The {…}
The Dayton Performing Arts Alliance has announced its 2025-26 season. Opera The season opens with Bizet’s “Carmen” led by an all-female team composed of Chelsea Gallo, a rising star within the conducting world, Irene Rodriguez, an award-winning Flamenco dancer and choreographer, and Dayton Opera’s Artistic Director Kathleen Clawson as stage director. Performance Dates: Nov. 1-2, 2025 A double will be {…}
The Washington National Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Mainstage Productions The season opens with Verdi’s “Aida” in Francesca Zambello’s production. Kwamé Ryan conducts with Jennifer Rowley starring in the leading role. She is joined by Adam Smith, Raehann Bryce-Davis, Agnieszka Rehlis, Shenyang, and Morris Robinson. Amber R. Monroe and Robert Watson also star in the lead roles. Performance Dates: {…}
(Credit: Chris Lee) The New York Philharmonic has announced its 2025-26 season. Here are the vocal performances. Jeannette Sorrell conducts soloists Sonya Headlam and Anthony McGill in a program that includes Mozart and Bologne. Performance Dates: Oct. 15-21, 2025 Jane Glover conducts Händel’s “Messiah” with Amanda Forsythe, John Holiday, Nicholas Phan, and Kevin Deas. Performance Dates: Dec. 10-13, 2025 Thomas Adès conducts {…}
LA Opera has announced its 2025-26 season. Here is a look at the program. Opera Gabriella Reyes and Duke Kim star in the company premiere of Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story.” James Conlon conducts the production by Francesca Zambello. Performance Dates: Sept. 20-Oct. 8, 2025 Puccini’s “La Bohème” will return Janai Brugger, Oreste Cosimo, Erica Petrocelli, Gihoon Kim, Emmett O’Hanlon, and {…}
(Photo credit: Norman Timonera) The Grant Park Music Festival has announced its 2025 season. For the purposes of this article only classical vocal concerts are included. The Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra and Chorus give the Illinois premiere of Jake Runestad’s “Earth Symphony.” Also programmed on this concert is Gustav Holst’s “The Planets, and Lili Boulanger’s “Psalm 24.” Christopher Bell {…}
(Photo credit: Mark Allan) The English Concert announces the details of its spring 2025 spring season. Soprano Lucy Crowe performs a program of works by Handel and Corelli, under the baton of The English Concert’s founder, Trevor Pinnock. Performance Date: January 30, 2025 (Wigmore Hall) Up next sopranos Isabel Schicketanz and Joanna Songi, mezzo-soprano Lucile Richardot, tenor Samuel Boden, and {…}
Famed countertenor John Holiday has been featured on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concerts. The 20-minute long program features Reynaldo Hah’s À Chloris,” Händel’s “Ombra Mai fù,” Abel Meerool’s “Strange Fruit,” James Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson’s “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” and the traditional song “I’m Going to Tell God All My Troubles.” Per NPR’s official report, “Holiday dedicates ‘Lift Every {…}